The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Arts & Culture, a division of the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture (FADA), is delighted to announce its participation in the upcoming 2024 Vrystaat Kunstefees taking place from 2-6 July 2024.
As part of this year’s lineup, UJ Arts & Culture presents its captivating dance production, With-Out Limits, in collaboration with its resident dance company, Broken Borders, under the directorship of Fana Tshabalala.
With-Out Limits explores the possibilities of blending dance and visual storytelling, through video mapping projection, introducing audiences to an exciting and fresh perspective on dance. The production showcases the creative collaboration with Executive Producer, Pieter Jacobs, Choreographer & Dancer, Fana Tshabalala, Creative & Line Producer, Karabo Mtshali, Video Content Designer & Cinematographer, Jurgen Meekel, Lighting Designer & Projectionist, Oliver Hauser, Sound Designer & Composer, Kuba Silkiewicz, alongside Costume Designer Nthabiseng Makone and Set Designer, Karabo Mtshali, in collaboration with the Key Creative Team.
“It is not the first time UJ Arts & Culture finds itself at the intersection of creativity and technology. The division spearheaded this discourse through its ‘Futures & Beyond: Creativity & 4IR’ forums and conference and at last year’s Vrystaat Kunstefees, it presented ‘Black Boi meets Boogeyman’ an immersive XR 360° visual album experience with multi-endings where viewers ‘choose their own adventure’ in partnership with Siziintsomi Creations and Different Immersive,” says Head of UJ Arts & Culture, Pieter Jacobs.
With-Out Limits takes audiences on a journey of a young man from a rural village who aspires to join the corporate world to support his family. This world quickly becomes restrictive and too rigid for him. Over time, he becomes disillusioned with his monotonous routine and longs for the freedom of his rural roots. Seeking solace, he retreats into an imaginary world of abundant nature.
Tshabalala highlights the uniqueness of this upcoming project: “What sets this piece apart is that it is different from what I have ever done before. It is my first time collaborating so closely with a lighting designer and videographer to ensure that the dance piece is seamless and meaningful to the viewer”.
With preparations and rehearsals underway, Tshabalala anticipates delivering a performance that will take audiences on a rollercoaster of emotions where reality and imagination intertwine, leaving them to reflect on existence within the digital era.
Tickets are now available for purchase through Web Tickets at: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/Event.aspx?itemid=1547816080
For more information, contact UJ Arts & Culture’s Marketing Manager, Mrs Lakin Morgan-Baatjies at lakinmb@uj.ac.za
About UJ Arts & Culture
UJ Arts & Culture, a division of the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture (FADA) produces and presents world-class student and professional arts programmes aligned to the UJ vision of an international university of choice, anchored in Africa, dynamically shaping the future. A robust range of arts platforms are offered on all four UJ campuses for students, staff, alumni, and the general public to experience and engage with emerging and established Pan-African and international artists drawn from the full spectrum of the arts.
In addition to UJ Arts & Culture, FADA (www.uj.ac.za/fada) offers programmes in eight creative disciplines, in Art, Design and Architecture, as well as playing home to the NRF SARChI Chair in South African Art & Visual Culture, and the Visual Identities in Art & Design Research Centre. The Faculty has a strong focus on sustainability and relevance, and engages actively with the dynamism, creativity, and diversity of Johannesburg in imagining new approaches to art and design education.
ABOUT FANA TSHABALALA
Fana Tshabalala is a distinguished choreographer and performer, renowned for his contributions to dance both locally and internationally. He received the 2013 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance, the 2014 Visa for Creation, and the 2018 Outstanding Choreography Award in Chicago. As the former Associate Artistic Director of The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative, Fana has showcased his work on a global scale.
His notable piece “Between” was featured in Dance Dialogue Africa, touring Germany and 12 African countries. He has collaborated with dancers from Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève and other South African choreographers.
In 2015, Fana worked with Cape Town writer Nanziwe Mzuzu on a TV documentary for e.tv, inspired by his solo piece “Man.” He also worked with children from the Kliptown Youth Program on two dance films, finalists in a Paris short film competition.
Fana has collaborated with international dance companies like Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre in Chicago and Lena Dance Company in Sweden. At the Market Theatre, he has been a key choreographer and movement director in productions such as “Letters from Madiba,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” and “Children’s Monologues.”
Awarded a Mellon Foundation residency, he created “AmaVendors” for the Flatfoot Dance Company in Durban and choreographed a solo piece titled “Zann.” Currently, Fana is a co-founder and director of the Broken Borders Arts Project at the University of Johannesburg’s Arts & Culture.
WITH-OUT LIMITS CREDIT LIST:
Executive Producer – Pieter Jacobs
Choreographer & Dancer – Fana Tshabalala
Creative & Line Producer – Karabo Mtshali
Video Content Designer & Cinematographer – Jurgen Meekel
Lighting Designer & Projectionist – Oliver Hauser
Costume Designer – Nthabiseng Makone
Sound Designer & Composer – Kuba Silkiewicz
Set Designer – Karabo Mtshali in collaboration with the Key Creative Team
Stage Manager- Happy Simelane
Production Manager – Thato Maroga
Technical Manager – Tebogo Ramatapa
Lighting Operator – Kenny Longwe
Sound Operator – Ludick Rasello
Technical Intern – Lonwabo Ncanda
Production Intern – Nonceba Tau
Set Builder – Themba Twala